posted byGina Dicksonon May 5, 2024 (last updated Jun 8, 2024)
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Every party needs someeasy-to-eat cold appetizer finger foods! These no-cook recipes are perfect for parties as they often require less work for the hostess. Browse through all of these cold finger food ideas, you are sure to find some new favorites.
Party Tip Reminder
It’s important to keep life’s business in perspective. When it boils down to one purpose in life, it all comes down to relationships. That is why I want to encourage you to focus on gathering with friends with a low-key attitude. I have some quick, no-bake appetizers that you can whip up and enjoy while spending time talking with friends. Make time for the ones we love.
Serving Tips For Cold Finger Foods
With a few simple tips, you can make ahead and then safely serve cold appetizers.
❄️ How do you keep appetizers cold at a party?
1. There are a couple of ways you can keep cold foods cold when serving them for a party. First, serve them up on small platters. This requires a bit more work as you will need to refill more often, but since they’re sitting out for less time, they remain cold.
2. Dips and spreads can be served in insulated bowls, or you can place a bowl in the freezer prior to filling it to chill it. This helps to keep the dip colder for longer. I like using this stainless steel bowl nestled on an ice bowl set.
3. If the appetizers don’t have perishable ingredients such as fresh produce, you can stick them in the freezer for 15-30 minutes prior to serving to chill them. The goal isn’t to freeze them just to reduce the temperature to just above freezing.
Last, keep in mind that not everything needs to be cold, so consider which will be ok at room temperature and which really are best when super cold.
Planning A Party Buffet Menu
When planning a menu, the most popular types of cold appetizers include canapes, small bites that can be eaten using the fingers in one or two bites, dips, crudites, and cheeses.
I am sharing with you a list of my favorite cold appetizers that I know your friends and family will enjoy at your next party.
Keep these tips in mind when planning your party menu.
Select a variety of easy appetizers! You want to have different flavors, shapes, and textures.
Don’t forget to offer up a few items that are vegan or vegetarian for guests who don’t eat meat.
Plan the serving pieces ahead of time and how you will keep items cold.
Easy Cold Finger Foods For A Party
This collection of easy cold appetizers includes finger foods that don’t require any heat, can be eaten without a fork, and can be served either cold or at room temperature.
Skewers/Kebabs
Serving food up on a skewer or toothpick makes food easier to eat for your guests! They are a bit time-consuming to prepare so you might only want to offer one along with a variety of types of cold appetizers for your party.
Pasta Salad Skewers
These pasta salad skewers are the perfect answer to serving a salad for a cocktail party! Tortellini, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh basil are layered onto skewers for an easy to eat handheld appetizer.
Individual mini charcuterie cups make a tasty cold appetizer for parties. It’s easy to fill them with unique and fun combinations that wow party guests and fit your budget. This easy finger food recipe takes just 15 minutes to prepare!
Need a fun to make and fun to eat appetizer skewers? This easy cold appetizer on a stick is made with layers of Swiss cheese, ham, Dijon mustard, salami, and baby dill pickles.
Juicy melon and salty prosciutto make a winning combination for this skewered appetizer. It’s the perfect easy party appetizer for a dinner party or great cold appetizer for a cocktail party that's always a crowd pleaser.
These easy marinated mozzarella balls are perfect to add to a cold charcuterie and cheese board. Fresh herbs, garlic and olive oil infuse the cheese with tons of flavor.
Bring a little Sicily to your table with this delicious marinated Sicilian Green Olives Recipe. The olives are infused with fresh herbs, garlic, dried oregano, a pinch of chili pepper for heat all smothered in extra virgin olive oil and white vinegar dressing.
Party appetizers need to be easy to eat and that’s where finger foods fit in perfectly. They generally don’t require a fork and can easily be eaten in one or two bites. Some may require a toothpick offered on the side.
Often they are simple recipes that you can easily prepare making them perfect for parties.
Strawberry Balsamic Cream Cheese Bites
A simple appetizer that combines a stunning look with Classic Italian flavors of strawberries, balsamic vinegar, and cracked black pepper. The addition of cream cheese makes a creamy, tangy base for the strawberry topping.
Crispy phyllo cups are filled with hummus and an easy cucumber chopped salad for a great appetizer for parties and gatherings. They’re great to make up ahead of time and easy to change up the flavors if you want.
A cucumber appetizer topped with a creamy, flavorful avocado and goat cheese mixture. They’re perfect little bites for any party or get together. They’re also naturally vegetarian, low carb, keto, and gluten-free.
Crisp cucumber slices are topped with spicy creamy Buffalo chicken. An easy to make appetizer that’s a crowd pleasing veggie filled snack that’s perfect for parties and all types of gatherings.
Looking for a cold appetizer for your party? Try these thick sliced cucumbers topped with hummus and a tomato. They’re so simple and easy to make! Plus they are suitable for a wide variety of diets.
Dips served with scoops are easy finger food to serve at parties. They are also easy to make ahead, saving you time before the party starts. Serve with your favorite chips, celery and carrot sticks, or an assortment of crackers and breads.
Spicy Pimento Cheese Dip and Crackers
Pimento cheese spread is a creamy, tangy Southern dish that’s quick and easy to make. Blended with cheddar, cream cheese, mayo, pimentos, and spicy jalapenos, this spread is perfect for parties or everyday snacking. Serve it with crackers or veggies for a crowd-pleasing appetizer.
Need a quick and delicious creamy dip for your next party? Cream cheese salsa dip is sure to be a winner with everyone. The cool, creamy dip is made with cream cheese, sour cream, and cheddar mixed in with salsa and Mexican spices.
Looking for an easy and delicious party dip? Try my family's cold shrimp dip made with cream cheese, Old Bay, a touch of mayo, and seasonings all blended together to make an easy-to-scoop cold party appetizer.
Creamy Yogurt Dill Dip is an ideal quick party dip that only takes two minutes to prepare. With a blend of Greek yogurt, mayo, minced onion, garlic, and dill perfect with veggies and chips.
This creamy concoction is one of the best cold dips to serve! Blended ricotta cheese, fresh garlic, lemon juice, and a handful of herbs make a winning dip your guests will love.
Crostinis are one of everyone’s classic cold finger foods! Crispy homemade toasts are topped with a sweet, herb-filled creamy ricotta cheese. While the toasts need to be cooked, you can also use store bought toasts to skip the cooking. Full of rich creamy flavor, they're sure to be a crowd pleaser.
This homemade cheese ball recipe is the perfect appetizer for parties and holidays! Creamy cheese ball packed with cheese blends, bacon, ranch and walnuts.
The famous Masters Pimento Cheese Recipe is s traditional southern sandwich spread that has been served at the Augusta National golf tournament concession stands for over 50 years. It also makes a party dip that's sure to be a big hit!
The perfect Mexican appetizer dip or salad for a party! Made with ingredients including a variety of beans, tomatoes, chilies, fresh onions, cilantro, garlic then seasoned with cumin and lime.
This recipe is a copycat version of the classic Lipton Onion Soup Dip Recipe without all the preservatives in the box mix. It takes less than 5 minutes to make this rich and creamy dip using everyday pantry staples and fresh sour cream.
Fresh apples, strawberries, and mint come together in this fresh apple salsa. No cook fruit salsa is perfect for serving at summer parties or backyard bbqs.
Sweet lump crab meat from a can, creamy cheeses, and a hint of Old Bay combine to whip up a tasty and crowd-pleasing dip in less than 5 minutes! When you make this creamy cold crab dip recipe, you will almost hear the ocean waves.
Y'all are going to love this Boiled Peanut Hummus! A smooth, nutty flavor with a punch of lemon and garlic makes this a southern hummus boiled peanut recipe you will make again and again.
This easy black bean dip is a appetizer to serve up for parties! It goes great with tortilla chips, crackers, or even veggie sticks. It has the perfect amount of spice, a bit of zing from the limes, and lots of earthy flavors.
Roll-ups are one of my favorite cold party appetizers! They’re the best cold appetizers that can be made ahead, perfect for groups both large and small, and usually a hit with guests. They may be made on a large flour tortilla, slices of meat, or other types of thin flatbread.
Party Pickle Roll Ups: Quick To Make Appetizer
Pickle roll ups are an easy-to-make appetizer that is perfect for any get-together or party occasion. With these simple how-to steps, you can make this crowd-pleasing snack with minimal prep time. The best part is you only need 4 ingredints to make a big serving tray of these delicious appetizers.
These ham roll ups are a low carb appetizer everyone will love. Thinly sliced ham is layered with cream cheese, cheddar cheese and green onions. No cooking required and they take just minutes to make. A tasty appetizer you can easily prepare in advance so you can enjoy your party too!
A simple cold appetizer that’s easy to make for groups large and small. Use lavash bread for the base and top it with creamy cheese and crisp cucumbers. Great texture and flavor for a light and fresh appetizer that’s a great addition to any party menu.
Large flour tortillas are filled with a rainbow of fresh vegetables and a delicious, easy to make chickpea spread make a tasty cold appetizer that’s great to serve for parties.
A spicy version of Cream Cheese Pickle Roll-Ups thanks to the addition of pickled jalapenos. Crisp dill pickles are wrapped in pastrami, cream cheese and jalapeno for an easy pickle appetizer you can whip up for events from parties to potlucks.
Mini sandwiches are easy cold appetizer finger food that are a little more filling. The best part is they can be made before a party. This frees up your time when the party is about to start!
Cold tea sandwiches, also called finger sandwiches, are small, delicate mini sandwiches usually eaten at tea time or as a mid-morning/afternoon snack.
These make-ahead cold finger food sandwiches allow you to enjoy your event without the stress of last-minute preparations. Impress your guests with an exquisite selection of tea sandwiches, ensuring a memorable and delicious tea party experience.
This sweet and saucy BBQ pulled pork sliders recipe is an absolute winner for any gathering or casual meal. With tender and juicy pulled pork, sweet and tangy barbecue sandwich sauce, melted cheese, and sweet Hawaiian slider buns, these sliders are a crowd pleaser.
Hosting a fun and relaxing party shouldn’t be a daunting task. This Party Planner is designed to alleviate the stress of party planning for busy women like you. With a clear layout and comprehensive sections, it provides a step-by-step guide to help you stay organized and on track.
From creating guest lists and planning menus to setting up decorations and managing timelines, our Party Planner ensures that no detail is overlooked. Spend less time worrying about the logistics and more time enjoying the company of your friends and family.
